Stillers vs. Lions Pre-game

August 22, 2001 by Steel Phantom

Stillers vs

Stillers
vs. Lions Pre-season:

With N�Synch
unavailable, the Stadium Authority is forced to feature the Stillers vs. Lions
encounter this Saturday.� The Lions come
in 1-1 in the pre-season, having lost to the Bengals 27-24 but beaten the Colts
27-26.

Detroit led
Cincinnati into the 3rd quarter but went down when Scott Mitchell
led the Kittens on (3) late scoring drives.�
Against Indy, the Lion D-side was toasted by Peyton Manning, falling
back 14-0 in just (2) possessions.�
After Manning sat down, Detroit scored (17) unanswered points to take a
17-14 lead at the half.�

In sum, the Lion
starters have played effectively but have not dominated; the work of the
Stiller starters, so far, is well known.�
This week, I expect those starters will play 2 � quarters or so.� They figure to see only light duty in the
pre-season finale against the Bills; that game is just (5) days after this
one.� That being so, the Lions tilt is
the last non-counter where the staff can hope to establish some positive to
carry into Jacksonville, Sept. 9.� To
that end, here are some things worth considering:

When the
Stillers have the ball:

Against the Vikings,
the Stillers rarely attempted a pass downfield; when they did, the results were
not good.� Consider: the following; when
you do, consider that Saint QB Aaron Brooks was 10/10/129 against the same Viking
D-aggregate.

Kordell threw (9) times completing (6) but
averaging less than 6 yards per attempt. The only toss that went 10 yards
beyond the LOS hit OLB Ed McDaniel in stride.�

Maddox
threw a deep out to
Brown; Brown went in.� Maddox suffered a
meaningless INT on the game�s last play.

Not good: (5)
longish throws, (0) completions, (3) INT.�
There is little doubt that the Stillers can run the ball
effectively.� Bettis and Amoz have
looked good; Fu less so, but presuming he stays healthy Fu can pack it.� It is entirely clear that the team�s
strength is rushing; from �98 to �00, the Stillers have had some success
running despite a truly awful passing attack.�
It is equally clear that this ceaseless grinding has been insufficient;
from �98 to �00, the team has gone 22-26.�
Pre-season is for working on weakness, since few professional teams
possess passing games weaker than the Stillers, the home team needs to air it
out Saturday.� Or try anyway.

Match-ups:

Marvel Smith
vs. LDE Robert Porcher:� Porcher is still an elite DE; Marvel came
on at the end of the 2000 season but seems to have regressed badly since.� The Stillers have few options at this
position; Tharpe doesn�t have the conditioning for the long haul; Ross is
unproven and Nkwenti can�t possible be ready.�
Porcher will be a test; hopefully, Marvel can make the nut.� The rest of the O-line has functioned fairly
effectively though Luther Elliss is probably the top DT that the Stillers will
face, to date.� Elliss may test Faneca
and Hartings and, no doubt, would absolutely blow up Mylinski.� Finally, the reserve OT will get a test from
back-up RDE James Hall who had (4) sacks against the Bengals and from the well
traveled, yet gifted, Alonzo Spellman.

Spike vs. RCB
Terry Fair:� Fair is a nice player but Fair is only 5�-9�.� The Stillers drafted Burress because he can
create mismatches against gifted but undersized CB like Fair.� It is time; it is past time for Spike to
produce.� Bryant Westbrook is out; the
aging Todd Lyght will start at LCB.�
Lyght was a Pro Bowl player once but has slowed.� This man was brought in as a nickel back
but, with Westbrook�s injury, is forced to serve as a starter.� In sum, this is a secondary that is open for
abuse on the corners though, truly, few teams have shown less capacity here than
the Stillers.

Stewart vs.
FS Kurt Schultz: Schultz
was never fast and now he is 32.� Maybe
he�s gotten slower but he hasn�t gotten dumb.�
In Buffalo, Schultz was a good hitter and a better spy.� Kurt can get a read on deceptive QB; Stewart
is not one of those but still must account for Schultz on any deep ball.

Word is that
Kent Graham will see time in the second half.�
This is highly aggravating; IMO, Tee has shown that he can be a
functional #2.� Martin plays better than
he practices; possibly, he would develop with more PT.� Tommy Maddox showed something in Atlanta but
snatched that away last weekend.� No
matter, if Tee is #2, then Graham or Maddox will be #3.� Maybe Maddox is inadequate but, for me, the
verdict is already in on Graham.� He is
a decent pocket passer but nothing special who appears to lack any survival
instinct in the pocket.� The Stillers
would struggle with Graham or Martin under center, but with Tee there is some
hope for improvement; with Graham, not a glimmer.� It is absolutely clear that the Stillers have higher and better
use of the Kent-cash; cut Graham and pay Holmes, the Stillers need their new
D-side leader more than any of their backup QB.��

When the
Lions have the ball:

The Lions have
installed a West Coast offense; generally, this features quick routes to the WR
and does get the other eligible positions involved in the passing game.� The Stillers have struggled to cover RB, FB
and TE; the soft zone favored here will give the WR plenty of room to work
underneath.� In sum, Detroit�s new
scheme seems to be just the kind of system against which the Stillers
struggle.� IMO, those problems derive
from the fact that, when the OLB drop off, so does the pass rush.� On the plus side, with Kendrell Bell on the
1st unit, the Stillers are approaching an ideal 3-4 state.� Any defense requires (4) legit rushers; the
3-4 emphases LB and this strongly suggests that � premium rushers will play
that position.� Bell is a rush threat as
Jones is not; Bell�s insertion gives the Stillers (4) strong, or semi-strong,
pass rushers including the twin OLB and A. Smith.� That�s all good.�

While the WC is
considered a pass-happy attack, SF used it to top the league in rushing for
much of the early 90�s.� James Stewart
is no Watters but it is worth noting that, last season, the Lions OL did beat
down Tampa Bay�s vaunted front.� This is
a huge, though inexperienced, OL group and, when the Lions spread the field,
few nickel packs match up.

Backus and Gibson vs. Porter and Gildon:�
The Lions start their last (3) 1st
round draft picks on the OL. Rookie Jeff Backus is the LOT; Aaron Gibson is
listed at ROT and Stockar McDougle at LOG.�
The other starters are OC Eric Beverly and ROG Brenden Stai.� Gibson and McDougle are immense, Backus less
so, but very tough.� If either Gibson or
McDougle lock on, they should win; if the Stiller DL plays man-up, strength on
strength (as in Atlanta) it could be an ugly day in Heinz-World.� Gildon�s famed outside loop will be a
marathon against Gibson and, given the quick strike nature of the WC scheme,
entirely futile.

Those behemoth Lions are both awkward and
inexperienced; I�d like to see Coach Lewis loosen his grip a bit and bring a
regular season stunt/blitz pack Saturday.�
If this game is going to be about it for the starters in pre-season, let
them play.���

Clancy/Hampton
vs. McDougle, Beverly and Stai:� McDougle has the beef, Stai and Beverley
are both veterans; we�ll see whether the Stiller NT odd couple can hold the
point.

Germane
Crowell vs. Chad Scott:� IMO, Scott competed well against Moss and
Crowell is in the same mold.

DeShea
Townsend vs. Johnnie Mortan:� Mortan was the 2nd WR taken in
�94, just after CJ.� Mortan has similar
skills; he is a decent but not exceptional starter.� Townsend will make his first start; we�ll get some sense whether
this man can play in the base or if his potential tops out at nickel back.

Mike Logan
vs. Herman Moore:� With Washington out, Townsend moves up
and, I guess, Logan will be the nickel back.�
I like this player but he has got to finish.� So far, Mike has come close on (3) big plays but come up empty
each time.

TE David Sloan (and pass catcher Pete Mitchell) vs. who knows?� Last week,
it was never clear who had Bryan Chamberlain; Sloan is a more accomplished
TE.�

The Lions have
(2) hometown QB on their roster, Charlie Batch and Mike McMahon.� When healthy, Batch has been an effective
leader.� McMahon has directed a couple
scoring drives so far.� Probably, the
B&G QB will get more crowd support Saturday but this may be a close call.

Special
Teams:

Larry
Foster:� This Lion WR had an 80 PR and 101 KO
return against the Bengals.� Kris Brown
has been getting it to the EZ with regularity; that�s good but probably, Foster
will be coming out anyway.